Sissis replaced by Migno at Mahindra Racing

Arthur Sissis (AUS)

Andrea Migno (ITA)

Mahindra Racing has announced that it has contracted Andrea Migno for the rest of the 2014 Moto3™ season. The Italian will take the place of Australian Arthur Sissis.

Following Sunday’s Czech Grand Prix at Brno, Mahindra communicated Sissis’ departure from the Indian outfit within its post-race press release.

‘Mahindra Racing today announced that rising Italian star Andrea Migno will replace Sissis until the end of the season,’ the paragraph begins. Andrea Migno (18), a graduate of the VR46 Riders’ Academy, has earned his chance with strong performances in the FIM CEV Repsol championship.’

“I take the opportunity to say goodbye to Arthur Sissis, to thank him for his contribution, and to welcome Andrea Migno for Silverstone,” states Mahindra Racing CEO Mufaddal Choonia. “I am looking forward to more exciting racing.”

“It wasn’t a good race and not how I wanted to say goodbye to Mahindra,” commented Sissis, who ended the Brno race in 26th place. “Once again I was in among the slower riders, and it was impossible to get away.”

Sissis has been part of the World Championship full-time since 2012, having made his debut with a one-off appearance at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Migno will make only his third Grand Prix appearance at Silverstone next weekend, having previously raced in the Catalan and Czech Grands Prix of 2013.

Rins left to lament final lap error

Alex Rins lost what could have been an almost certain victory in the Moto3™ Czech Grand Prix on Sunday, unintentionally slowing at the end of the penultimate lap.

In a finish which proved to be the tightest ever between the top 16 riders, Rins was ahead as the final lap began, but mistakenly began celebrating one lap too early. The Estrella Galicia 0,0 rider pushed on through the final lap and would end the day ninth.

"I’m very disappointed about this big mistake," commented the championship runner-up of 2013. "I was thinking it was the last lap and when I crossed the finish line all of the riders passed me. I then just tried to push hard to finish further up. I am very sorry for my team because this weekend was very good, but I made this mistake."

In the meantime, team-mate Alex Marquez was fourth as a multiple-rider group made its way toward the finish line as one.

"On the last straight going up the hill, I tried to open the gas more than Miller," Marquez explained, having eventually edged out the Australian by one position. "I stayed behind him, tyre-to-tyre, but – and I don’t know why – (eventual winner) Masbou’s bike came up really quickly and passed Miller and I.

"I tried my best to re-pass Masbou on the final straight, but then I saw Bastianini and Kent past me really quickly; I don’t really understand how they did that! The most important thing is that we scored more points than Miller, which was important."

With seven events remaining, Marquez is now placed second in the championship standings and 23 points in arrears of championship leader Miller.